Electricity-conducting cement can transform buildings and streets into vast energy storage facilities.

Researchers have developed a groundbreaking method to store electricity by incorporating it into cement, utilizing affordable and abundant materials. The potential of this electrified cement is vast, suggesting that houses and roads could effectively become batteries themselves. This innovative approach could revolutionize energy storage, especially given the increasing reliance on intermittent renewable sources like solar and wind power.

The current cement devices are in the early stages, capable of powering only a few LED lightbulbs. However, there are ongoing efforts to scale up this technology to a level where a home's concrete foundation could meet its daily power requirements. If expanded further, electrified roadways could potentially supply power to electric vehicles while they are in motion. The key challenge lies in achieving this scalability at an economical price point, which would unlock a nearly limitless capacity for storing energy.

The cement devices function as supercapacitors, a simplified type of battery consisting of two conductive plates separated by an ion-conducting electrolyte and a thin membrane. The storage capacity of these supercapacitors is determined by the total surface area of the conductive plates. Over the years, researchers have explored integrating supercapacitors into structural materials like concrete and carbon composites used in various applications, offering advantages such as improved safety due to nonflammable electrolytes.

Traditionally, cement lacks good electrical conductivity, prompting researchers to experiment with enhancing its properties by adding highly conductive forms of carbon like graphene or carbon nanotubes. While effective, these additives are costly and challenging to produce on a large scale. To address this, a team turned to carbon black, a widely available and cost-effective form of powdered carbon, for their research.

By mixing a small percentage of carbon black with cement powder and water, the researchers created a network of interconnected conductive tendrils within the cement structure. The resulting cement supercapacitors, when assembled into small plates and combined with an electrolyte made from potassium chloride and water, demonstrated the ability to power LED lights when charged. The team estimated that using carbon black cement in a standard home's foundation could store enough energy to meet daily household needs.

The potential applications for electrified cement extend beyond homes to infrastructure like roads, parking lots, and driveways, offering a means to store and supply renewable power to electric vehicles. By making energy storage more affordable, this technology could have significant implications for developing countries seeking sustainable solutions. Scaling up the technology poses challenges, including maintaining electrical conductivity as the supercapacitors grow in size. The researchers are exploring strategies like increasing the amount of carbon black while preserving the cement's structural integrity.

In conclusion, the development of electrified cement represents a promising advancement in energy storage, with the potential to transform how we harness and utilize power from renewable sources. The researchers are focused on overcoming scalability issues and optimizing the technology for widespread adoption, paving the way for a more sustainable and efficient energy future.

Source: https://www.science.org/content/article/electrified-cement-could-turn-houses-and-roads-nearly-limitless-batteries